Chapter Eighty: The Might of the Innate

Chapter Eighty: The Might of the Innate

Without a moment’s hesitation, Wu Hong drew his hammer, and a true energy arm formed behind him, seizing the weapon and smashing it toward the gathering currents of true energy. When the small hammer first appeared, it was no larger than a common cattle-killing tool, yet as it flew several yards, it grew to a hundred meters, swelling in the wind and striking awe in all who witnessed it.

Yet, Yang Wei the Crown Prince commanded nearly ten thousand Imperial Guards, their numbers overwhelming. One must know that the Bone Refining realm is already a lofty stage for martial artists. Though early and mid-stage Bone Refining experts are not rare in the martial world, this mass of ten thousand was truly intimidating. Had they all reached the peak of the acquired realm, the advanced phase of Bone Refining, they could obliterate Wu Hong a thousandfold in an instant—perhaps even the legendary innate realm could not withstand such force.

Even so, as new energy joined the fray, Wu Hong spat a mouthful of blood with a guttural sound. His true energy nearly scattered, but with a mental command, he summoned a dozen Xuan Yin fruits from his Qiankun ring, chewing them fiercely and barely withstanding the moment.

The many peak acquired experts, though alarmed, breathed a sigh of relief. If, even in such a confrontation, they lost to Wu Hong, their pride would be shattered. At this point, everyone shook their heads, knowing there could be no other outcome: unless Wu Hong broke through to the innate realm during the battle, his defeat was certain.

The ten thousand Bone Refining warriors wore relaxed expressions, clearly not exerting their full strength. Yang Wei the Crown Prince watched Wu Hong with mocking amusement, ceasing his own true energy output. Some of the dozens of peak acquired experts also stopped attacking, leaving the confrontation to the ten thousand Imperial Guards and Wu Hong.

Wu Hong realized they were toying with him, playing a cat-and-mouse game, and could only bitterly smile. Li Ruolan saw Wu Hong opposing tens of thousands for her sake, and witnessed the hammer in his hand swell with the wind, finally confirming his identity. Her eyes instantly reddened, crystalline tears like dewdrops slid down her cheeks.

Yet she was powerless. She felt a pang of self-reproach—why had she not learned her master’s martial arts, why had she been so absorbed in poisons? Now she could offer no help at all.

Wu Songran was dumbfounded as well, wishing to assist, but whenever he approached the battle, the wild true energy would hurl him back.

Just as victory seemed assured, a sudden twist occurred.

“Haha! Since you all acknowledge her as mine, today Wu Hong will claim her!” A shadow suddenly appeared beside Li Ruolan, smashing the iron cage with a crash.

The experts were startled, staring in shock—this was the notorious demon Wu Hong! Everyone reeled in disbelief; two Wu Hongs had appeared. Li Ruolan, at first, felt joy at the familiar figure, but upon hearing his words, her face froze, mind spinning in confusion. Even when he wrapped an arm around her waist, she did not resist.

A tremendous boom resounded. As all were stunned, Wu Hong felt the mountain-like pressure of true energy suddenly lighten, and he slipped away. The black river of true energy, gathered from ten thousand men, smashed into the mountain behind him.

With a thunderous crash, the mountain’s base seemed gouged open by a god’s immense power, the entire peak shuddering. The force of the blow was terrifying.

Wu Hong’s eyes widened, and with a flash he leapt dozens of yards away, both true energy arms swinging, unleashing giant palms formed of true energy, each spanning a hundred meters, to strike at the false Wu Hong.

At the same time, he swung his enlarged hammer with a thunderous smash toward the impostor.

In the hearts of all present, the true Wu Hong posed a far greater threat than the false one; several experts immediately turned their attacks on him. Their assault disrupted Wu Hong’s plan to rescue Li Ruolan.

Again, Wu Hong spat blood, feeling his organs shift painfully within him. Many attacks also targeted the false Wu Hong, but his true energy was strangely formidable—within a radius of ten meters, silken threads of true energy coiled around him. The incoming energies struck these threads like stones thrown into cotton, making no sound.

Yet the impostor’s body still trembled under the barrage, clearly strained. He dared not linger and soared upward, seemingly flying unaided. Some in the martial world knew the false Wu Hong possessed a flying artifact, which he had once used to escape pursuit in Monkey Valley.

The crowd’s faces changed, but it was too late—the false Wu Hong, carrying the dazed Li Ruolan, ascended straight into the sky, dozens of yards high, vanishing into the horizon in a blink.

Just as all despaired, another sudden shift occurred.

The Elder of Ten Thousand Poisons, who had been seated cross-legged in the iron cage, suddenly opened his eyes, two beams of cold, tangible lightning shooting toward the fleeing impostor.

High in the air, the false Wu Hong sensed an irresistible force of heaven and earth tailing him, his expression changing drastically as he cast dozens of silken threads for defense. These miraculous threads met the cold lightning-like true energy, but were torn apart without resistance.

In an instant, two streams of strange true energy pierced the impostor’s heart. His body convulsed violently, and he spat a mouthful of blood, his grip on Li Ruolan loosening as she plummeted.

The crowd stood dumbfounded, petrified, watching Li Ruolan fall from the sky as Wu Hong did.

Wu Hong saw clearly: though the impostor’s heart was pierced, a mysterious glow from his body, the Heavenly Silkworm scripture, supported him, allowing his ascent to continue.

Most observers could not see this; they assumed his flying artifact was at work, and that the mortal wound spelled certain death.

Some sighed in relief, others in regret.

Wu Hong sprinted forward, catching Li Ruolan in his arms as she fell.

Only then did Li Ruolan regain her composure, trembling and wordlessly hugging Wu Hong’s neck tightly.

Now, all attention shifted from Wu Hong to the Elder of Ten Thousand Poisons; none cared for the couple’s actions. The beams that had shot from the elder’s eyes left everyone trembling with an instinctive terror.

“Haha! Wu Hong, you are quite something!” The elder laughed heartily, with a sweep of his hand severing the iron bars of his cage as if with a sword.

He stepped out of the cage.

Little Dongfang emerged from the crowd, approaching with a grave expression. “Elder Wan, do you really intend to stand against all the heroes of the land?”

“Hmph—I'll deal with you later, woman!” the elder snorted coldly, his gaze freezing Little Dongfang, who felt as if thunder had struck her chest, nearly vomiting blood, her face pale and cold with fear, unable to speak further.

The martial experts and the dozens of peak acquired masters were baffled.

Yang Wei the Crown Prince was equally puzzled. Though the elder’s attack on the impostor was extraordinary, he assumed it was a secret technique. Shocked, but not overly concerned, he stepped forward, saying, “Elder Wan, do you truly intend to oppose the imperial court?”

Li Ruolan trembled at the prince’s words, releasing her hold on Wu Hong’s neck, jumping from his arms to stand beside her master. “Master, don’t worry about me—just escape yourself!”

Her words eased everyone’s minds; all assumed the previous events were misperceptions.

The Elder of Ten Thousand Poisons smiled kindly. “Girl, it’s nothing—they cannot harm these old bones of mine.”

His lighthearted smile made everyone tense once more, their hearts nearly stopping. Only Wu Hong felt a storm raging within; he realized the elder, like his father, had likely ascended to the innate realm. He wondered if someone would come to lead him away.

“You brat, I dislike your words. Whatever kind of crown prince you are, today you will not harm a single hair of my disciple!” The elder spoke with boundless arrogance.

Yang Wei the Crown Prince, never before treated so disdainfully, was infuriated. He was heir to the throne, accustomed to deference; his face darkened, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

Ten thousand Imperial Guards, seeing their young master insulted, shouted in unison, “How dare you! Kill! Kill!”

The combined shouts of ten thousand Bone Refining experts were formidable.

Yet the elder remained unfazed, still relaxed. “Brats, today I will show you what is called the Might of the Innate!”

As the words left his lips, everyone felt as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over their heads, shivering from crown to heel. After all, the innate realm was the stuff of legend, and little was truly known of its power.

The elder’s robes billowed as his body slowly floated skyward. The ten thousand Bone Refining warriors, seeing his arrogance, attacked together, unleashing ten thousand streams of black true energy at him.

The black energies formed another torrent, surging toward the elder, as all watched in tense anticipation.

The elder shouted, “How can starlight compete with the brilliance of the moon!” With a sweep of his hand, multicolored true energy flooded the sky, carrying the might of heaven and earth, as surrounding spiritual energy rushed toward him.

The world changed color; the blazing sun lost its brilliance for a moment, and all the experts, including Wu Hong, paled.

Yang Wei the Crown Prince lost his arrogance, his face darkening.

The multicolored energy collided with the ten thousand streams of black true energy, sweeping through them like a hurricane, unstoppable.

Only then did the ten thousand Bone Refining Imperial Guards turn pale.

A thunderous roar split the air; the earth cracked, the lake waters shot thousands of meters into the sky. Smoke and dust billowed, then settled.

All beheld the scene before them, petrified—the ten thousand Imperial Guards had vanished without a trace, the mountain behind them leveled and gone.

A terrifying chasm scarred the land.

Everyone stood dumbstruck, their minds echoing the elder’s four words: “The Might of the Innate!”